hope the Lord is. For he shall be as the tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh; but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

EPHESIANS iii. 19.

-To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.

OF all mental attainments, the knowledge of the love of Christ is the greatest. For, it assures the soul of salvation, constrains to purest obedience, supports under the greatest sorrows, and survives the loss of all human acquirements. It yields the most animating cordial under the sorrows of death, and assures the soul of immortality and glory beyond the grave. This knowledge is the free and gracious gift of God; those who enjoy it, as ardently pant after more abundant increase, as the hart panteth after the refreshing stream. The persons to whom Paul wrote this epistle certainly did, in a measure, know the love of Christ; for, the possession of that love was essential to their Church communion. And although he asserts the love of Christ to surpass knowledge, yet it is to be understood as expressive of its absolute extent and infinite fulness. For, as Dr. Owen says, "We may know that experimentally, which we cannot know comprehensively: we may know that in its power and effects which we cannot comprehend in its nature and depths, A weary person may receive refreshment from a spring,

though he cannot fathom the depth of the ocean from whence it proceeds." It is presumed that in some measure you have been taught the knowledge of the love of Christ, and that you wish a more abundant increase. This discourse, therefore, is to direct you to a few of those means by which you may attain it; and my prayer is that you may find it more operative upon your heart and life.

1. Seek the perpetual aid of the HOLY GHOST. TO this divine agent our Lord directed his disciples, who should teach them all things. This was necessary, for the world by wisdom knew not God; no rules of art, no rays of science, could possibly convey the knowledge of the love of Christ to their hearts, or ours, so as to diffuse its sacred benefits to the soul. No man can call Jesus the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost; and it is expressly declared, the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost given unto us. The nature of the love of Jesus is like himself, unchangeable; the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever: but our perception and enjoyment of it admit of variation. We cannot say, our comfort in the love of Jesus was the same yesterday and to-day; and, if the nature of the love of Jesus was as changeable as our enjoyment of it, it would be equally as unworthy of himself to bestow it, as it would be uncertain to us. I therefore direct you to the everlasting love of Jesus; and esteem it a pleasurable truth for you to believe, that the same Spirit who first taught you the love of Christ, will continue to increase that knowledge. When, therefore, you feel unfruitful and inanimate, wishing at the same time that your heart may expand towards the Savi our, repair to the throne of mercy, and by prayer plead for the teaching of the Holy Ghost, from this most encouraging promise, He giveth his Spirit to them that ask him.

2. Contemplate the grandeur of the PERSON OF JESUS. As the knowledge of persons, the beauties of their features, and the gracefulness of their deportment fail not to captivate us in their esteem; much more a perception of the excellencies of Jesus will assuredly enkindle our warmest affections, and draw us nearer to his heart. Jesus possesses all the attributes of Godhead, all the virtues of manhood. And such are the perfections united in his person as our Redeemer, exhibited in numberless characters and offices, that we have just reason to exclaim with Zechariah, How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! the altogether lovely; the chief among ten thousand! Every time we contemplate the excellencies of Jesus, new wonders arise and confirm our hope in the fulness of his redemption. Peter's sentiment concerning the glorified Saviour was admirably just, Whom having not seen we love; in whom though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls. No peace, no consolation, no pleasurable delight and perseverance in our race which is set before us, but by looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. To such sacred enjoyments the Saviour invites us. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth; for I am God, and besides me there is no Saviour. Those who look to this Redeemer, and by faith contemplate his glory, will find a transforming efficacy upon their hearts. All we with open face, beholding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. It is impossible to have a sight of Jesus without an attractive influence upon our hearts! To hear of Jesus, though from the most eloquent lips,

without being engaged in contemplating his glory, is like partaking of the most charming repast by the light of the moon, in the severity of ice and snow. But he who feels aright, enjoys the genial warmth of the sun of righteousness; his affections ascend on high, and he is not ashamed to declare

A very wretch, Lord, I should be,

Had I no love to thee:

Rather than not my Saviour love,
O may I cease to be!

3. I next recommend you, attentively to read the HisTORY OF YOUR SAVIOUR'S LOVE. This history is contained in the Bible. Here you will learn that the love of Christ is divine, everlasting, free, rich, eternal, infinite; and thus be compelled to adore Jesus as the GOD OF LOVE. You will perceive the variety in which the love of Jesus is expressed to a race of sinners. That he who was equal with God should be made in the form of a servant; become a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; though Lord of all, to have no where on earth to lay his head; to agonize and sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemaneto suffer sentence of condemnation to be passed upon him at the bar of his own creatures to be spit upon, buffetted, scourged, and, in the issue, suffer the ignominious and accursed death of the cross, under all the wretchedness that man could devise, or the wrath of God could inflict: For what-for whom? To satisfy justice, and to redeem sinners, the vilest of the human race! All this to bring them, and I hope to bring you also near to God, to enjoy him as your father and your portion for evermore! ✪ what manner of love is this! What heart but must